Railway signal-torpedo.



110150324. I PATENTED APR.'16, 1907.

. 0. E. BEGKWITH. RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPBDO.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1905..

.oInIRLEs BECKWITH, or PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

RAILWAY SlGNAL-TORPEDO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 16, 1907.

Application filed June 28, 1905. Serial No. 267,474.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. BECK- wITI-I, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria,'in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signal- Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal-torpedoes, and pertains to that class in which there is an external housing or case provided with an externally arranged flange and a case or member to close the said housing and means for connecting the completed torpedo to a railroad-rail.

The object of this invention is to so construct the external flange of the housing or outer member that it performs the double function of strengthening the housing and forming a resistance to the explosive gases and also to lock the two parts of the torpedocase firmly together.

A further object of this invention is to con-- nect the raiLattaching member to one part of the torpedo-case and independently of the means which serve to lock the two parts of the case together.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an inverted perspective view of a completed torpedo which embodies my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectionalview thereof, the same being shown in position upon the tread of a railroad-rail. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the two parts or members which constitute the torpedo case, the same being shown separated.

In carrying out this invention, an outer cup-shaped member a is provided at its edge with an externally-arranged annular flange b and aninner cup-shaped member 0 which in the completed torpedo is placed within the cup-shaped member a, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. While I'here show the member 0 cup-shaped and prefer to so make it in the completed torpedo, yet I do not desire to limit myself to any particular form of the member 0, because that may be varied with out affecting the spirit and scope of my present invention. This torpedo is particularly intended for spring-rail-engaging members, such as d, though other forms may be used.

One feature of my present invention is the bending inward of a portion of the annular flange b, as shown'at c, and against the outer side of the inner member 0, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby the two parts of the torpedo-case are firmly lockedtogether.

The rail-attaching member d may be connected in any suitable manner to one of the parts of the torpedo-case. As here shown, it is attached by providing the annular flange b with the slots f, through which the rail-engaging member d is passed, preferably in the manner shown in Fig. 1. When the rail-engaging member is attached as shown in Fig. 1, it will be observed that it is entirely independent of and does not engage the inner member 0 and does not in any manner serve to connect the two parts of the case, that being accomplished by the inwardly-turned portions 6 of the annular flange. It will also be noted that the outer member is provided with means for holding or attaching thereto the rail-engaging member and is also provided with means for holding the two parts of the torpedo-case together.

A torpedo-case constructed and connected as herein shown and described is exceedingly simple and effective and in which the outer member of the case performs the dual function-of attaching the rail-engaging member. and of connecting the two parts of the case together. Attention is also directed to the fact that when the torpedo is in use the railengaging member is out of contact with the inner member.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An improved torpedo, comprising an outer cup-shaped case having an externallyarranged annular flange at its edge, a railengaging member connected to the outer case through the medium of the said flange, and means for connecting the two parts of the case independently of the rail engaging member.

2. An improved torpedo, comprising an outer cup-shaped member provided with an externally-arranged annular flange at its edge, an inner member therefor, a portion of the annular flange extending over the inner member and locking the two parts together,

a detonating compound Within the case, the In testimony whereof I afliX my signature said lannular flange provided gith openin%ls, in presence of tWo Witnesses.

a rai -engagin member eXten m across t e outer side of t e outer member a hd through i CHARLES BEOKWITH' the said openings, and means for connecting the two parts of the case independently of the rail-engaging member.

Witnesses:

ALPHA ARNOLD, GLENN E. MCCLURE. 

